Stitcher head



May 27, 1930. H. s, ALLEN 3 1 S'1I'ICHER HEAD 4 Filed larch 9, 192a s'sheets-sneet 1 INVENTOR. fioward G. Allen.

4 BY 4444; MATOR EYS.

May 27', 1930. G. ALLEN STITCHER HEAD Filed March 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

May 27, 1930., I s, ALLEN 1,760,031

s'rncxmn HEAD Filed llarch 9, 1928 I 5 sheetssheet 3 INVENTOR. Howard 6' A/len May 27, 1930. H. s. ALLEN vSTITGHER HEAD Filed March 9,, 1928 5 Sheets-Shea 4 a lQNVENTOR. flowa/fd 141 1212.

' A TTDRJVEY.

May 2 7,1930. s. ALLEN Q 1,760,031

STITCHER 11mm Filed March 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. J/a'ward 67 Allan.

Patented May 21, 1930 HOWARD G. ALLEN, OF NIAGARA FALLS, N

PANY, HQ, OF'NIAQABA FALLS, NEW

EW YORK, ASSIGI NOR TO H. R. BLISS COM- YORK, A CORPORATION OF YORK snircnnnn nan Application filed March 9,

This invention relates to a stitcher head of a type for placing wire securing stitches in fibre boa-rd containers and the like.

The invention has as an aim the provision of a stitcher head capable of operating atia rate of speed higher than stitcher heads heretofore proposed. One of the difiicult problems which is met with in operating a stitcher head at high speeds, is what is known as over- 19 run of the wire feed. Stitcher heads include a mechanism for feeding wire from a continuous length which is cut off and formed into a stitch, and when operating at high speeds this mechanism tends to overrun, due to the speed, and too much wire is fed. Moreover,

this overrunning action may not be continuous but may occur from time to time, thus jamming up the stitcher head and preventing operation. Accordingly, the invention contemplates a feed mechanism which feeds a length of wire which is to form a stitch at varying speeds; that is to say, at a given operating speed of'a'stitcher head, the speed at which the "wire is fed varies. This variation is such as to reduce feeding speed near the end of the feeding operation so that the wire whichis fed comes rather gradually to a sto so as to prevent an overrun.

Ether objects of the invention includea more simplified construction, and a constr tion wherein some of the members which are subjected to considerablewearare detachably connected to other associated members so that they can be readily replaced from time to time, also a new and improved stitch supporting mechanism which is more compact and rugged than heretofore has been the case.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stitcher head with parts cut away and parts in section showing, in general, the construction of the stitcher head. a

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing particularly, the wire feed mechanism.

. Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3 3 of-Fig. 2 showing a construction of a former. slide and drive bar.

I Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the mechanism for severing the wire. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed rear views of a 1928 Serial No. 260,287.

stitcher head showing the operating mechanism for the drive bar and the wire cutting mechanism operatedby the drive bar actuating mechanism.

Fig. 7. is a detailed view looking into the front of the stitcher head mechanism showing the parts of the wire feed mechanism in position just prior to an operation.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that'of Fig. 7 but showing these partsjust after the drive bar begins its downward inovement. Fig. 9 shows the drive bar and connections with the wire feed, withthe drive bar approaching its lowermost position. V v Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views showing a length of wire formed into a. staple, and illustrating drivenoutwardly by the driver.

Fig. 12 is a detail view in perspective show-' the manner in which the staple is stitch showing the mounting and operating mechanism therefor.

The stitcher head consists ofa main body portion 1 which is adapted to be secured to the structure, a stitching machine (not shown).

3, as bestshown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. As a means for reciprocating the former slide, the

' This stitcher head includes the usual former same-is provided with a stud 4 which is received in a cam groove with an interposed antifriction roller. As a means for reciprocating the drive bar, the same is provided with a stud 5 (Fig. 3) which projects through a slot 6 in the former slide, and on this stud I is mounted a crank 7 having a stud 8 adapted to be received in a hole in a rotating member, preferably the cam which actuates the former slide. i

Thus far, themech'anism is much the same as the heretofore proposed stitcher heads, and these parts operate as shown in Fig. 10 with the former shde 2 moving downwardly prior to the drive bar and sha ing a length of wire, as shown at 9 (Fig. 8? into a staple form (Fig. 10) and then the drive bar comes down and ejects the staple as shown in Fig. 11. A

suitable. anvil (not shown) is positioned below the stitcher head to clench the legs of the staple, and the article to be stitched is placed so that the legs of the staple are driven therethrough in the usual manner.

. Y A driver which actually engages the stitch recess in the driver. It will thus be seen that the driver may be quickly assembled or disassembled and is easily replaceable.

Wire for the stitches is fed through a guide or tube and between drive rollers 16 and 17 which are geared. together, and thence through a tube or guide 14. The drive roller.

' 17 is keyed to a shaft 18, also keyed to this shaft is a gear toothed clutch wheel 19 constructed to drive the shaft when power is applied to the wheel in one direction, and to slip when power is applied in another direction so that the two drive rollers are driven in one which is cut away in this figure, fits onto the front of the head and is arranged to pivot on the shaft 18. This housing is provided with.

an arcuate slot 21 through, which extends a clamp screw 22 so that the housing is rotatably adjustable around the stud 18 and can be set in any position b tightening the clamp screw. This. housing 'arries a stud 25 (Fig. 2) which pivotally carries a gear toothed segment 26 which meshes with the teeth in the gear wheel 19, thus to drive the driving rolls for the wire.

The segment has an arm 27 which pivotally carries a fork or yoke 28 (Fig. 1). This yoke slidably fits over an arm 30 which is pivoted to the stitcher head at 31 (Fig: 2). The op posite end of this arm 30 is pivotally connected to a link .32'which is in turn pivoted to the drive bar at 33. This construction drives the wire feed and its action is important, especially in the operation of high speeds.

The reciprocation of the drive bar 3 acts through the construction just described to rock the segment. As shown in Fig. 7, the drive bar is in its approximate, uppermost position; Fig. 8 represents a drive bar after it has moved downwardly somewhat, and Fi 9 represents the arts when the drive bar 18 in lowermost position. It is to be noted that the point33 onthe drive bar moves away from the pivotal point 31 as it approaches its lowermost position. This causes the link 32 to swing. Accordingl on the first movement of the drive bar t e adjacent end of the arm 30 moves with it'at about the same speed,

but as the drive bar goes downward the linkk 32 swings upwardly, so that the downward speed of the lower end of the link and the adjacent end of the arm 30 is diminished with respect to the movement of the drive bar. Thus, the movement of the segment and the driving rolls diminish in s eed asthey approach the end of the fee they are stopped at the end of the feed movement gradua ly with relation to the relatively abrupt-stop of the drive bar. Accordingly, the wire is fed with diminishing speed, and overrun is thus avoided. This avoidance of the overrun of the wire feed permits the operstion of the stitcher head at an increased s we As heretofore mentioned, the housin 20 which pi votally carries the segment 26, plvots at 18. By reference to Fig. 1 it will he noted that by loosening the clamp screw 22 the housing can be pivoted, and this slides the yoke 28 along the arm 30 and accordingly varies the stroke of the se length of the wire feed. The further the yoke is from the pivotal point 31 the greater the stroke, and the greater the amount of wire fed at each stroke, and vice versa. This permits adjustment of the wire feed and suitable indicia may be provided for adjusting the housing, as shown in Fig. 1.

'The wire is fed from the tube 14 into a cutter tube 35. This cutter tube or hollow die is held by set screws 36 in a unitary and movement, and

'ent and the inc removable unit 37 or cutting block, grooved as at 38 for receiving an inwardly extending piece 39 on the stitcher head, and being held inplace by a screw 40 extending through an elongated slot 41 (Figs. 1 and 4). This is cut away as at 47 to engage a plunger 48. In each cycle of movement the crank 7 which aetuates the driveb'ar contacts with the arm 46 in a mannersh'own in Fig. 6 and rocks the shaft 45 to de ress the plunger, which in turn depresses the member 43 and knife. The entire cutting block mechanism and knife are removable as a unit and can be detached and-assembled at any time without interference whatever with the operable 'connection in the actuating mechanism, inaslength. For this purpospya slide 50 is provided (Fig. l) and shape as at 51 for receivmg a projection 53 on the housing 20. The

block 37 has a screw 54, the head of which is received in a slot in the slide .50. This screw isadjustable and may be locked by a set screw 55. Upon rotational adjusting movement of the housing around the pivot point 18 the slide is moved in and out, and accordingly the block 37 moves. Fine adjustment to' exactly center the cut piece of wire in the gripping mechanism'is obtained by adjusting the screw 54. When the block 37 is removed the head of the screw 54 merely moves out of the slot in the slide.

The wire is fed as the stitching operation is being performed, with the drive bar and the former slidemoving downwardly. As

shown in Fig.3 the wire being fed out.

through the cutter block is disposed to one side of the drive bar and the wire is re-.

ceived by a gripper 60. A cam block 61 (Fig.

1) is on the former slide and engages a stud. 62 on the gripper. This stud is screw threaded into a split block 63 which may be tightened by a screw 64, whereby to permit adjustment of the camming action. As the former slide comes down the cam 61 pushes the gripper into alignment with the wire feed as shown in Fig. 3-, the gripper being pressed normally against the cammin'g action by springs 65. The gripper in the main is pivoted as at 66 and it includes a'second slidable member 67 (Fig. 12) with a stud 68 which engages in an opening 69 in a slide 68. This slidable member -.is urged into stitch gripping position, as shown in Fig. 12 by a spring 67 The slide 68' has a pair of notches 68 and 68 which cooperate with a spring pressed plunger 68. As the gripper comes down the link 7 strikesthe topvof the slide and knocks it down; before being knocked down it was held up by the spring pressed plunger68 in the notch 68; after being knocked down it is held by the plunger and notch 68". It then grips the length of wire which is to be severed and formed into a stitch.

In the upward'movement of the stitch forming mechanism the'gripper places the separate piece of wire in proper-position, whereupon the slide member 67 is moved up again to release this wire. This is accomplished by the driver 10 striking the lower end of the member "68". Bynoting Fig. 3 it will be observedthat the driver 10 projects outwardly somewhat from the drive bar 3 and the member 68 is in its path.

This wire gripper is of a novel construetion in that it eliminates the threading of the 7 wire through a plurality of. relatively small places. Noting Fig. 12 it will be observed that the removable member 67 has a foot or gripping piece 67 and that a cooperating relatively stationary member has slotted guide 3 devices 66. The wire is gripped by these two parts. Thus at the side 66 there is no slot through which the wire may be fed. It has been the practice to reciprocate the movable member corresponding to the one 67 between two separated wire gripping mem- 'bers similar to the one 66*, thus utilizing these gripping devices, but in the present construction there are only two of such gripping devices disposed side by side;

For the purpose of supporting the staple legs as the staple is benig driven, there is a housing 70 carried on the former slide which houses a curved guide member 71 (Figs.- 3.

5, 7 and 13) acted upon by springs 72 through a cross head 73. Levers 74 connect with the cross head and have rollers 75 which operate in guideways 7 6. The springs normally urge the member 71 so that its lower end moves in between the two parts of the former guide (Fig. 10). When the former guide is inuppermost position the rollers strike the projections 77 and the levers are swung to retract the member 71. W'hen the former guide approaches lowermost position the rollers strike the bottom portion of the guide (Fig. '6) andswing the levers to cause this member to project outwardly between the portions ofof cam-like formation and it is pushed out of the way as the driver comes down to drive the stitch. The housing 70 is provided with a slotted portion 80, and the guide member 71 is fixed to a pin 81 projecting,

through this slot and slidably received in the cross head 73, as shown at 82, Fig. 13. The levers 74 have fulcrum devices 83 which are carried in elongated openings 84 in the housing. It will be seen therefore, that by rocking the levers 74 onthe fulcrum members that the cross head 73 is raised or lowered and due to its slidable connection with the pin 81 reciprocates the curved guide device.

The rocking of the levers 74, as above pointed out, is effected by the rollers 75 being engaged in slots 76 and as the former slide raises and lowers these levers alternately strike the bottom and top ends of these guides. An advantage of this construction is the long life assured of the springs 72.

.The position in which the stitcher head is ordinarilyleft idle the parts arein approxi-' mately the position shown in Fig. 13 with the fulcrum members 83 resting in the bottom of the elongated slots 84. Thus the springs 72 are not under substantial tension but are in practically their normal position. Thus alignment with the fulcrum point which'is I. movable in the elongated slots and the A springs tend to hold the fulcrum members in the bottom of the slots.

It will be seen that the stitcher head affords a novel form of driving mechanism for the wire feedwhich effects a slowing down of the feeding motion as it approaches its stopping point.- Thus, the feed of the wire is not stopped abrupltuy, and accordingly overrun is prevented. oreover, the construction affords a simple adjustment forFthe length of the wire feed, and which can easily be made by merely shifting the position of the housing rotatably on the stitcher head. Simultaneously with this adjustment the cutter block unit is moved by its connection with the housing. This entirecutter block is a 3. In a stitcher head, thecombination of a stitch forming mechanism including a reciprocating member, wire feedingmeans, a

link pivotedto the reciprocating member, an

arm pivoted at one-end of the link and having a fined pivot at its other end, and means associated with this arm for driving the feeding means, whereby movement of the recip rocating member intermittently actuates the feeding means, said link and arm being adapted to pivot with respect to each other whereby to vary'the speed of the wire feed with respect to the speed of the reciprocating member.

4. In a stitcher head, the combination of a stitch forming and driving mechanism including a reciprocating stitch forming member and an associated reciprocating stitch driving member, wire feeding means, a onedirection gear for driving the wire feeding means, a pivoted segment engaging the gear, an arm operablyassociated with the segment, one end of which is mounted on a fixed pivot, a link pivoted to' the other end of the arm,

unit in itself and detachable from the stitcher and a pivoted connection between the reciprohead, as above described, and when detached this unit for replacement of the cutter block or knife or what not, no connection need to be interfered with, asit merely moves out from under the operating plunger. "Moreover, themanner in which the driver is connected to the drive bar is a simple and efiieluding a reciprocating drive bar,

cient one and permits ready replacement of the driver.

Claims:

1. In a stitcher head, the combination of a stitch forming and driving mehanism inmeans for feeding wire to said mechanism, and' an operable connection between the drive bar and the feeding means arranged to utilize the reciprocating movement of the drive bar to intermittently operate the feeding means, said connection consisting of relatively movable members which operate to drive the which vary W1 11 ing mechanism.

feeding means at speeds respect to the rate of speed of the movement of the drive bar, with the rate of speed of ciprocating member,

the feeding means diminishing near the endof each intermittent feeding movement.

2. In a stitcher head, the combination of a stitch forming mechanism includinga remeans for feeding wire to said mechanism, and an operable conneclegsof a stitch while being ,cating stitch driving member and the link, whereby reciprocating movements of the stitch driving member intermittently actuate the wire feeding means.

a 5. In a stitcher head, the combination of a reciprocating stitch driving member, wire feeding means, an arm operably associated with the wire feeding means, a fixed pivot at one end of the arm, a link, a pivotal connection between the link and the reciprocating member, and a pivotal connectionbetween the arm and the link, the parts being arranged so that the distance between the fixed pivot of the arm and the pivotal connection between the link and the reciprocating member varies as this drive member moves, whereby the link and arm pivot to accommodate for this varied distance, thus to diminish the speed of movement of the arm and the speed of movement of the wire feed.

6. Ina stitcher head, the combination of a stitch supporting shoe for supporting the driven through material to be stitched, a ousing in which the shoe is mounted for movement, levers fulcrumed on the housing, a cross head'connecting the levers, means connecting the shoe to the cross head, springs acting on the levers tion between the said reciprocating-member and connected thereto near' the fulcrum and the feeding means arranged to utilize the points, whereby the tension of the springs reciprocating movement of the member to is minimized, and

I 7. In a stitcher head, the combination'of ablemembers which operate to drive the wire a shoe for supporting the legs of a stitch feeding means at speeds which-vary with while being driven through material to be means for actuating the respect to. the rate of speed of the movement stitched, a housing in which the shoe is of the said member,v with the rate of speed mounted for movement, a pair of levers, of the feeding means diminishing near the means for actuatingv the levers, said levers end of each intermittent feeding movement, being loosely fulcru'med, a cross head con- III nectin the levers, a connection between the cross cad and the shoe, and springs connected respectively to the housing and the levers adjacent the fulcrum points of the levers whereby the tension of the springs is mmimized upon the actuation of the levers.

8. In a stitcher head, the combination of a shoe for supporting the legs of a stitch while being driven through material to be stitched,

shoe for supporting the legs ofa stitch when being driven through material to be stitched, a housing in which the shoe is mounted for movement, said housing being provided with elongated openings, a pair of levers fulcrumed in these elongated openings, means for rocking the levers, springs connected to the levers adjacent their fulcrum points and also connected to the housing, a cross head connecting the levers, and-a pin secured to the shoe and having a slidable connection with the said cross head.

10. In a stitcher head, the combination of a shoe for supporting the legs of a stitch when being driven through material to be stitched, a housing in which the shoe is mounted for movement, said housing being provided with elongated openings, a pair of levers tulcrumed in these elongated openings, means for rocking the levers, springs connected to the levers adjacent their fulcrum points and also connected to the housing, a cross head connecting the levers, and a pin secured to'the shoe and having a slidable connection with the said cross head, said housing being provided with a slotted portion through which the said pin extends.

11, In. astitcher-head the combination of a reciprocating member in the stitching mechanism, a shoe for supporting the legs of a stitch, a housing in which the shoe is mounted for movement, said housing being mounted v on the said reciprocating member, a pairof levers fulcrumed to the housing, means on, the stitcher head for rocking the levers on' the fulcrum points, springs acting on the levers and connected thereto adjacent the fulcrum points of the levers, a cross head connecting the levers, and axslidable connection between the shoe and the cross head.

I 12. 'In a stitcher head the combination of a reciprocating member in the stitching mechanism,- a shoe for supporting the legs of a .stitch',a housing in which the shoe is mounted for movement, saidhousing being mounted two side by side parts.

able relative to the the fulcrum points, springs acting on the levers and connected thereto adjacentethe fulcrum'point of the levers, a cross head connecting the levers, and aslidable connection between the shoe and the cross head, the said means on the stitcher head for rocking the levers consisting of closed end guideways in which the ends of the levers operate, whereby the levers are rocked as the said reciprocating member and housing reciprocate.

13. In 'a stitcher head the combination of a reciprocating member in the stitching mechanism, a shoe for supporting the legs of a stitch, a housing in which the shoe is mounted for movement, said housing being mounted on the said reciprocating member, a pair of levers fulcrumed on the housing, means on the stitcher head for rocking the levers on the fulcrum points, springs acting on the levers and connected thereto adjacent the fulcrum point of the levers, a cross head cona second member movable relative to the first and positioned alongside of the first and above the foot whereby said Wire stitch may be grpped by the two members disposed side 15. In a stitcher head, a gripper device for gripping a length of wire to be formed into a stitch, comprising two cooperating gripping members, one of which is movable relative to the other to efi'ect gripping and releasing of the wire, one of said members having a single slotted portion and a foot portion for receiving the wire stitch and the other said member having apart disposed at one side of the slotted portion and above the foot and arran ed'to move into wire gripping-position where y the wire is gripped solely by the 16. In a stitcher head, a gripper device for gripping a length of wire to be formed into a stitch, comprising a primary gripping memberincluding a single part which is slotted for receiving a wire, and a second part movfirst and disposed along side of the said slotted part of the primary member and arranged to move to andfrom wire gripping position, said first mentioned part having-a'portion lying under the second mentioned part, whereby the wire stitch is ing arranged to progressively diminish the gripped solely by the slotted part and the movable part.

17. -In a stitcher head, a gripper device for gripping a length of wire to be formed into a stitc comprising a rimary gripping member including a sing e part which is slotted for receiving a wire, a second art movable relative to thefirst and dispose alongside of the said slotted part of the primary member and arranged to move to and from wire gripping position, whereby the wire stitch is gripped solely b the slotted part and the movable part, an an unobstructed surface on the primary member positioned on the side of the movable member opposite that of the slotted part.

- 18. In a stitching machine, or the like, the

combination of a stitch forming and driving.

mechanism, means for advancing wire to said mechanism, driving means for ntermittent- 1v actuating the advancing means, and means for connecting the driving means and wire advancing means, said connecting means bespeed of movement of the wire advancing means relatively to the speed of movement of the driving mean s'substantially throughout the entire range of intermittent movement. i.

19. In a stitching machine, or the like, the combination of a stitch forming and drivin mechanism, means for advancing wire to 7 said mechanism, a reclprocating driving member, and means connecting the driving. member and the advancing means so that the advancing means is intermittently oper- I ated during a reciprocable stroke of the driving member, said connecting means being ar-v ranged to progressively diminish the speed of movement 0 the wire advancing means relatively to the speed movement of the driving member during the said reciprocable movement substantially throughout the entire reciprocable movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

HOWARD G. AL 

